Holiday Gift Guides for Spouses

I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again—time to start getting serious about Christmas shopping! Last year, I put together some holiday gift guides for kids ages 0-8, but this year I want to focus on shopping for the adults in your life. In this post I’ll give you some general gift-giving tips as well as list some of my recommendations for both men and women. Whether they are your boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, Mom or Dad, siblings, or friends, I hope these suggestions help make you a successful gift-giver this holiday season!

Let’s get started with my gift shopping tips! If you haven’t read my gift guide from last year, I highly recommend doing so, because even though that post focuses on shopping for kids, many of my tips in that guide apply to all gift shopping, and the tips I’m going to give this time are different.

• Work on a list of gift ideas throughout the year. The best way to ensure that you’re getting gifts people will need, use, and love is to listen carefully to things they say throughout the year (even when they don’t have a birthday or holiday coming up soon) and then write down gift inspiration as soon as it occurs to you. For example, if my mom mentions that she needs a new slow cooker, I whip out my phone, pull up my gift suggestions note, and write it down. Then, when her birthday or Christmas comes around, I buy her the slow cooker she’s been meaning to buy herself. Being a good listener and keeping a running list of gift ideas are two keys to being a champion gift-giver.
• Pay attention to interests and hobbies. If you want to get someone a gift that’s unexpected and fun, pay attention to their interests and hobbies. My sister is an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, and for her birthday my parents gifted her an awesome dragon dice tower. I didn’t even know a dice tower was a thing, but my sister absolutely loved it! Or, as another example, last year I bought my husband a bike helmet with Bluetooth capabilities because he was cycling to and from work everyday and wished he could listen to music on his rides. Maybe your husband is a gamer, or your wife loves reading. Paying attention to those interests can help you pick out gifts that they will be sure to love.
• Gift cards don’t have to be a cop-out gift. People often joke that a gift card is the gift you give when you don’t know what else to get for someone. But there are times when a gift card may actually be the most thoughtful gift you can give! There are even circumstances when you should choose a gift-card over purchasing a gift yourself. Typically, I do not recommend buying clothes or makeup for other people because the chances of buying the wrong size, style, or shade are just too high. Jewelry can also be hit or miss, unless you have a good grasp of the recipient’s personal style preferences. Instead, buy a gift card to their favorite store or boutique and let them shop for those items themselves. So long as you are buying a gift card with a real purpose and not just using it as a blank check, it can be a meaningful gift. Some of my favorite gift cards to give (and receive!) are:
  • Bookstore/Audible gift cards
  • Restaurant gift cards
  • Ulta Beauty gift cards
  • Home Depot/Lowes gift cards
  • Gift cards to local spas or salons
  • Gift cards to local experiences (indoor sky diving, escape rooms, museums, golfing, etc.)
  • Gift cards to favorite small shops/boutiques
• Buy things they won’t buy for themselves. My husband is notoriously bad at buying shirts for himself. He will wear a t-shirt until it threadbare and full of holes. Because of this, most of the shirts he owns I’ve bought for him. I like to buy him a mix of nice shirts suitable for any occasion or location, and graphic t-shirts that match his interests. I’ve found some really cool Star Wars, Marvel, and Avatar graphic tees over the years, and he’s always excited to get them as gifts. Not only are they fun, but they’re also something he would never buy for himself (even if he needed them!). This category can also include things like subscriptions. Does your wife love BBC movies and shows? Get her a BritBox subscription. Does your husband travel a lot for work? Pay for a year of TSA PreCheck to make traveling easier. Try to pick gifts that others wouldn’t get for themselves, both to avoid accidentally buying something they may already have and also to ensure what you’re getting them is really a treat and a surprise.
• Share things you love. If you have a product in your life that you just are obsessed with, chances are it would make a great gift for someone else. Found a skin care regimen you love? Buy it for your sister! Read a book you couldn’t put down? Snag it for a friend. My mom has a small, hand-held kitchen chopper that she can’t live without and frequently buys it as a gift for others, because she believes no one else should have to live without it either! Sharing your favorite things is a great way to give a gift you know is excellent, because you already own and love it yourself.

And now on to the recommendations! These are not even close to complete lists of possible gift options for the men and women in your life, but they are a good place to start and hopefully will spark some additional ideas.

Gifts for her | 1 – Revlon One-Step Volumizing Hairdryer | 2 – Essential Oil Diffuser | 3 – Ryan & Rose Cutie Tote | 4 – Soulvation Headbands | 5 – Hey June Turquoise Huggies While I’ve linked to one specific pair of earrings here, I highly recommend everything from this jewelry boutique! The quality and prices can’t be beat. The huggies are the most comfortable earrings I’ve ever owned, and they have several unique necklaces as well. Be sure to check out the whole website, and maybe choose to get a gift card so the gift recipient can pick a few things to try. | 6 – Red Aspen Press-on Nails Again, I’ve linked a specific set of press-on nails, but there are dozens of options on the website that are all very cute. These are the highest quality and best priced press-on nails I’ve ever used. I recommend checking out the entire shop, or buying a gift card so the recipient can pick their personal favorite. | 7 – Bagnet This accessory attaches to your bag and uses a magnet to keep it off the dirty floor. It makes an excellent stocking stuffer! | 8 – Simple Modern Tumbler | 9 – Owala FreeSip Water Bottle | 10 – Ryan & Rose Cutie Holder portable cup holder | 11 – PhoneSoap sterilizer | 12 – Babe AM/PM Lash Treatment Set | 13 – PMD Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device | 14 – New Testament: Journaling Edition – Line Upon Line. These scripture sets are absolutely gorgeous, have extra wide margins for note taking, and can be enhanced with the Line Upon Line scripture stickers, watercolor pencils, and highlighters | 15 – Voloom Rootie Hair Volumizing Ceramic Iron | 16 – Electric Callus Remover

If you’re still not sure that any of these specific suggestions will work for the women in your life, try some of these more general options:

• Cozy bathrobe and slippers
• Noise cancelling headphones or earbuds
• Computer or tablet accessories (covers, mouse pads, Apple Pencil, etc.)
• Small kitchen appliances (food choppers, waffle irons, milk frothers, etc.)
• Books
• Board or card games
• Specialty coffee or tea with a cute new mug or tumbler
• A lap desk for working from home/in bed
• Travel accessories (portable chargers, travel mirrors, cute carry-on bags, makeup organizers, a pet carrier backpack, etc.)
• Fashion accessories (headbands, scarves, jewelry, shoes, etc.)

Gifts for Him | 1 – A-Game Hydro Hat by Melin. These hats are water resistant and perfect for working out in! I got my husband one of these last year and he loves it and wears it all the time | 2 – Leatherman Heavy Duty Multitool | 3 – Owala FreeSip Waterbottle | 4 – Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock | 5 – Go Hang It Pro | 6 – Universal Socket | 7 – Retractable Extension Cord | 8 – Star Wars Waffle Iron | 9 – Codenames Game | 10 – Fresh Clean Tees These are some of my favorite shirts to buy my husband. I love the way they fit, the price is good, and the quality is great. Check out their website to see all their style and color options | 11 – Ravine Card Game | 12 – Marvelous Heroes Card Game | 13 – Magnetic Wristband Use this to hold onto screws and nails so they don’t get lost while you work | 14 – PhoneSoap sterilizer | 15 – Dr. Squatch Star Wars Soap | 16 – Muscle Massage Gun

If you’re still not sure that any of these specific suggestions will work for the men in your life, try some of these more general options:

• Noise cancelling headphones or earbuds
• Computer or tablet accessories (covers, mouse pads, Apple Pencil, etc.)
• Books
• Food gifts (snack boxes, meat subscription services, spice rubs, craft beer/wine samplers, etc.)
• Grilling tools/supplies
• Tech (Google Home, drone, smart watch, portable chargers, etc.)
• Fashion accessories (sunglasses, beanies, belts, ties, etc.)
• Pajamas and slippers
• Fancy shaving kit/accessories
• Running shoes or workout gear

I hope these recommendations are helpful! If you’ve got some favorite gifts you’ve received or gifted, let us know in the comments so we can add them to our personal lists. Happy holiday shopping!